Supporting tamariki takiwātanga Māori (autistic Māori children): Exploring the experience of early childhood educators.

Abstract

The knowledge and attitudes of educators can have a strong influence on the experiences of autistic children who attend inclusive early childhood settings. Autistic children from under-represented ethnic groups, for example, tamariki takiwātanga Māori (autistic Māori children), are likely to face extra challenges and educators need to consider ways to support their cultural development. For this study, we interviewed 12 educators with recent experience supporting tamariki takiwātanga Māori in inclusive early childhood settings. We constructed three themes and seven subthemes from the interview data. We found that educators' understandings of autism were mostly in line with the neurodiversity perspective, which views autism as a difference, not a disorder. We also found similarities between the neurodiversity perspective and Māori perspectives of autism and a need for more training and resources based upon a Māori world view and available in te reo Māori (the Māori language).